2004 Maserati Quattroporte review

Maserati Quattroporte review:

The big Italian saloon is making a triumphant return to the world of the flagship car, in the shape of the Maserati Quattroporte which introduces innovative new concepts to this highly conservative sector.

Clothed in an elegantly-designed Pininfarina body, the new saloon is a modern take on the original Maserati Quattroporte concept of marrying genuine sportiness with space and comfort in a typically sophisticated Trident marque package.

The Maserati Quattroporte offers today what the first Frua-designed Quattroporte surprised clients with in 1963: the inimitable Trident style, a sophisticated interior awash with full-grain leather and luxury woods, plus a spirited temperament its elegantly understated exterior doesn’t even hint at.

The Quattroporte, which debuts on September 9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, lives up to every expectation drivers might have of such a twin-souled car: it has the space and dimensions of a limousine yet the irresistible, confident character of a blistering GT.

This is a car that can be personalised right down to the last detail to suit the client, using, of course, the very best of Maserati’s trademark Italian taste and design.

It also revolutionises the classic architecture of the big saloon, thanks to two factors: the positioning of the engine behind the front axle and the use of the sports-derived Transaxle rear-mounted gearbox in unit with the differential. The result: optimal weight distribution for guaranteed maximum efficiency.

The sophisticated electro-hydraulic gearbox is fully automatic, but allows the driver to opt for a sportier change by selecting the manual setting and using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shift. The new Quattroporte also boasts some impressive vital statistics.

DIMENSIONS: length 5052 mm, width 1895 mm, height 1438 mm, wheelbase 3064;
ENGINE: 400 bhp 4.2-litre Maserati V8;
PERFORMANCE: top speed 275 km/h.

And there is a practically endless array of personalisation options available, including 15 bodywork colours, three types of wood (rosewood, mahogany and briarwood), 10 shades of leather and a wide range of specific optionals. End of Maserati Quattroporte review.